Gloria Hunniford blasted the guidelines on 'do not resuscitate' advice

NHS guidance has urged GPs to draw up schemes for the elderly and patients with cancer, dementia, heart disease or serious lung complaints.

It includes asking the over-75s whether they want medics to try and save them if their health suddenly deteriorates.

But Hunniford launched a bitter broadside at the plans – and said she would not want a “do not resuscitate” rule because she loves life too much – just like her late daughter Caron.

Appearing on ITVs’ Loose Women yesterday she said: “My fundamental premise is I want to live and if anyone cold-called me and said will you tick this box to say do not resuscitate me, I’d say on your bike.

"First of all I want to be resuscitated.

“My sister had a heart attack at one point and my brother rang me to say they wanted to switch off the machine. I flew over there and I said under no circumstances.

“My sister had at least two, maybe two-and-a-half years more with her family and more importantly her family enjoying her.

I would hope that one it comes to the point when it’s about resuscitation that my lovely family will take that decision for me

Gloria Hunniford

“I would hope that one it comes to the point when it’s about resuscitation that my lovely family will take that decision for me.

“This is a really bad message to send out, it’s like ‘You’re too old now, go away’, I hate that.”

Health Lottery ambassador Gloria, 75, and Caron’s brothers Michael and Paul Keating set up The Caron Keating Foundation in her memory to raise money to for professional carers, complementary healing practitioners and support groups dealing with cancer patients and families affected by the disease.

She said: “My Caron never, ever, ever talked about death, only about life. I think I’m the same.

“Goodness only know what will happen to me, but I want to be here. I want to live.

“There is another aspect, another box to tick that says do you want to die at home or in hospital.

"I’d tick that box as I’d like to die at home. So if I had a decision at all, that box I would tick.”

The new guidance has been drawn up by experts advising NHS England, the organisation running the health service.